Salt-affected soils in Tanzanian agricultural lands: type of soils and extent of the problem
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group.
Abstract
Salt-affected soils are a global challenge, affecting 1 billion ha of land, with 200 million ha found in
Africa. The challenge brings adverse impacts on agricultural productivity, food security, environĀ
mental sustainability, and food security. In Tanzania, more than 2 million ha of land are salt-
affected, of which 1.7 million ha are saline soil and 0.3 million ha are sodic soil. To cope with this
threat, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of its extent (coverage), existing types, and
available management strategies. This review presents a comprehensive account of the challenges
and opportunities of salt-affected soils in Tanzania and examines management options that have
been observed to increase agricultural productivity in rice-growing areas. A systematic review of
relevant articles published in databases was carried out using PRISMA guidelines and flowcharts.
This review highlights the origin, extent, types, and various techniques for alleviating salt-affected
soil problems. It also emphasize on the use of inorganic and organic amendments, salt-tolerant
varieties, irrigation water quality, and drainage infrastructure. We revealed that farmers, use
burned and unburned rice husks, sawdust, gypsum, and farm yard manure (FYM) as copping
mechanisms. Furthermore, there have been continuing efforts to develop salt-tolerant rice variĀ
eties, coupled with maintenance of irrigation infrastructure and site-specific soil management
options, as appropriate solutions to tackle salt issues. Given the light of existing data, the review
recommends using RS and GIS for updating information on salt-affected soils, particularly in
irrigated areas, as an essential component of sustainable management and preventing further
loss of agricultural land.
Description
SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT 2023, VOL. 9, NO. 1, 2205731
Keywords
climate change, economic implication, inorganic amendments, organic amendments, salt tolerance, reclamation
Citation
https://doi.org/10.1080/27658511.2023.2205731